Battling with bloating can be a real pain.
It's a total buzzkill to feel your belly balloon after enjoying a scrumptious feast. But a herbalist claims he's found a quirky-named spice that could spell the end of those tummy troubles.
Taking to TikTok, Christian Drapeau also said this herb tastes a lot like liquorice and can be used to make a surprising type of tea. "So, what I am holding here is Star anise," he said (@stemcellchristian). "Now, as a French man, the first time I talked about this I called it 'star anus' and I got a very interesting reaction...
"It's pretty delicious it tastes like liquorice. You take two or three of those, you boil that into what, eight, 12 ounces of water and you drink it, you can add a little bit of sweetener." These peculiar star-shaped spices hail from the Chinese evergreen tree Illicium verum and have long been a staple in traditional healing practices.
Star anise is the spice Christian recommends for relieving bloating (stock image) (EPA)Studies indicate they're brimming with bioactive goodies like linalool and quercetin, both celebrated for their anti-inflammatory prowess. Anethole is another gem found within it, known to soothe the sore symptoms associated with IBS - irritable bowel syndrome.
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Christian added: "It is absolutely delicious and it's amazing to reduce bloating and gas formation." While star anise can be a beneficial spice, it's not without its risks. It's particularly toxic to infants and can cause severe allergic reactions in some individuals.
The herbalist continued: "Other than that, if you don't take too much, don't take it for extended periods of time... But if you take it for a few months it's no issue, very good to eliminate gas."
Not a fan of the liquorice-like flavour of star anise? No worries, the NHS has your back with a variety of other suggestions to combat bloating. Keeping active, staying hydrated, and opting for high-fibre foods are all recommended.
On the flip side, it's wise to limit the intake of fizzy drinks, alcohol, and caffeine. And watch out for the usual suspects like cabbage, beans, and lentils, which are notorious for making you feel bloated.
See a full list of NHS recommended remedies below:
- Replace larger meals with smaller, more frequent meals
- Massage your stomach to release trapped wind
- Drink lots of water
- Exercise regularly
- Chew with your mouth shut to avoid swallowing air
- Avoid too many fizzy drinks, alcohol and caffeine
- Avoid processed or fatty foods, in addition to too much cabbage, beans or lentils
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